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Amvets Department of California Service Foundation

EIN 95-6056761 · Garden Grove, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROUDLY SERVES VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE PROGRAMS SUCH AS SERVICE OFFICERS, WELCOME HOME PROGRAM TO OUR HOMELESS VETERANS, AND GRANTS USED FOR VARIOUS OTHER VETERAN PROGRAMS.

Income
$11.6 million
Spending
$13.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
270
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$148,956, director of hr and payroll

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $9.4 million spent. TEAM AMVETS THRIFT STORES OPERATE VETERAN-MANAGED AND VETERAN-RUN THRIFT STORES IN SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. THE STORES OFFER DONATED HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND CLOTHING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE. PROCEEDS FROM SALES OF THE DONATED MERCHANDISE ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE AMVETS SERVICE FOUNDATION AND ITS PROGRAMS WHICH SERVE VETERANS WITHIN CALIFORNIA. THE RECRUITING PROCESS OF TEAM AMVETS ACTIVELY RECRUITS MILITARY VETERANS TO WORK WITHIN THE THRIFT STORES AND SERVICE FOUNDATION PROVIDES ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VETERAN COMMUNITY AND ALSO ACTS AS A FORM OF THERAPY FOR VETERANS RETURNING FROM COMBAT WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS OR OTHER MENTAL DISABILITIES.
  2. $1.6 million spent. SERVICE TO VETERANS - SERVICE OFFICERS PROVIDE FREE QUALITY VETERANS' BENEFITS CLAIMS SERVICE AND INFORMATION IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, DISABILITY COMPENSATION, MEDICAL SERVICES, HOSPITALIZATION, AND REHABILITATION. THEY ARE TRAINED IN ALL ASPECTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BENEFIT REGULATIONS, ARE IN TUNE WITH VETERANS' ISSUES, AND HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF SPECIFIC VETERANS' CONCERNS. ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE DONATED CLOTHING TO HOMELESS VETERANS, DONATED TIME, ENERGY AND PRODUCTS TO THE STAND DOWNS, DISCOUNTS PROVIDED TO VETERANS, AND PREFERENTIAL HIRING OF VETERANS.
  3. $560,894 spent. "WELCOME HOME" - FURNITURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VETERANS ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE FURNITURE AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN HOMELESS BUT ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING THEIR LIVES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.